Bradford Era – by Mandy Colosimo A collection of handwritten letters and other documents, dating back to 1856, were discovered in an attic of a home in Washington state have made their way to McKean County. The correspondence consisted of family exchanges between Phillip Griggs Ellithorpe, Philander Doty Ellithorpe and Asa R. Burleson and Oliver Moore during the Civil War. It had been kept at the Cowlitz County Historical…
Bradford Era – by Fran De Lancey Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Bucktail Post #138 Smethport American Legion being chartered. Considering that the national American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans’ organization, was chartered by Congress on Sept. 16, 1919, the Bucktail Post ranks among the earliest local posts. In McKean County, only Bradford Post #108 is older. As recorded in “Timeless Home,” the official publication of Smethport’s…
Bradford Era — by Fran De Lancey Blue skies and warm temperatures greeted the large crowd who attended the Bucktail Park dedication Friday afternoon behind the Good Growing Gardens Barn on U.S. Route 6 west of Smethport. A project of the McKean County Adult Probation Department — adult offenders performed the work as part of community service — the park honors all those McKean County soldiers who served in…
Smethport Web — by Nathan Muller After more than a year of planning, Marvin Street Bridge in Smethport was officially named as “Bucktail Regiment Memorial Bridge” during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday. Signs are now placed at both ends of the bridge to honor the area’s Civil War volunteers recruited by Thomas Lieper Kane in 1861. The Bucktails served with “high distinction” in 18 major battles in a war…
Smethport Web — by Nathan Muller Ross Porter opened the week long Bucktail reenactment on Saturday, April 23, 2011 commemorating the departure of the volunteer militia from Smethport 150 years ago. “As reenactors, we are a living monument. We do this not to glorify the events, but to give tribute to the events and to the people who struggled and fought.” See photos of the Bucktail departure reenactment. The…
Smethport Web — by Ross Porter Saturday morning, April 30, Bucktail reenactors launched a giant raft at the Route 555 Driftwood Bridge immediately west of PA Route 120 where Sinnamahoning Creek enters the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, concluding a weeklong commemoration of the Sesquicentennial 2011 Civil War Bucktail Formation and Departure. The authentic raft was constructed by Bucktail reenactors April 2 and 3 under the guidance of…
Smethport Web — by Ross Porter On Saturday, April 23 in Smethport, PA, the Sesquicentennial 2011 Civil War Bucktail Formation and Departure will be reenacted in front of the McKean County Courthouse at 500 Main Street. Activities begin with an 8:00 – 9:30 am breakfast at the Bennett House, now the site of Courtyard Restaurant, across from the McKean County Courthouse. The reenactment officially begins at 9:30 in front…
The Bucktails were formed as the result of a recruiting drive by political activist and prominent businessman Thomas L. Kane in 1861. Pennsylvania governor Andrew G. Curtin authorized Kane to form two companies of volunteers. Throughout the region, about 700 men answered the call for foot soldiers, coming from the wilderness areas of Elk, McKean, Tioga, and Cameron counties. Most were expert marksmen, giving the Bucktails their well deserved…
Jovanna Porter organized a Smethport Bucktail Unit Civil War Day for her students today. Students were separated into groups and circulated between various workshops. The entire class gathered to witness multiple firings of a replica Civil War Napolean cannon provided by Smethport resident Brian Gustafson.
Bradford Era – by Sara Eddy Furlong The My Jersey, Your Impact program implemented this year at Smethport High…
Bradford Era – by Mandy Colosimo The island on Hamlin Lake in Smethport can reportedly handle 200 vehicles for…
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